Toy glider



Jan. 16, 1951 JACKLE 2,538,522

TOY GLIDER Filed March 21, 1947 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 UNITED S TA'TES PATENT O F FICE "TOY GLIDER ErwinKJackle, Sydney, N. Y.

Application March 21, 1947, Serial No. 736,225

This invention relates to toy aeroplanes and more particularly toy aeroplanes of the glider type. a

It is the object of the present invention to provide a toy aeroplane which is rugged and 'eco nomical in construction and adapted for the entertainment of small children, which toy simulates the flight of aerial gliders which are so fascinating to the younger generation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a glider assembly which is composed of a minimum number of parts and in which these parts are so arranged that they can be assembled and dismantled by children of tender age to serve as an educational toy. Furthermore,

the invention contemplates a glider, the combined parts of which are capable of adjustment to vary the character of the flight of the toy with the attendant intriguing results of the differences in its modes of operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a light toy which because of its lightness and simplicity is not subject to damage, nor can it do any damage when the same strikes against furniture and indoor furnishings and belongings. Furthermore the toy may be easily collapsed and extended so that it may be carried conveniently in a pocket or other confined space and may be quickly adjustedfor use.

Other'objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the toy in accordance with the present invention, showing the Wings in full lines in position for flight and in dotted lines in the collapsed condition of the glider;

Fig. '2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View along line 3-4 of Fi 1; p

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the nature of the yielding connection between the fuselage body and the tailpiece; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the rudder which may be adjustably connected to the tailpiece at any desired inclination.

In Figs. 1-3 is shown a simple aeroplane construction of the glider type formed of a minimum number of parts which are capable of easy assembly and dismantling. The glider may be formed of any light materials and preferably of balsa wood, although other light materials may be used such as Celluloid, light plastics, etc.

The main body of the glider is formed by a fuselage It] as a cigar-shaped surface of revolu- 4 Claims. (01. 46-80) tion having a rounded nose l9, and resembles the fuselages of conventional aeroplane constructions. 'This fuselage is provided with a slot '24 in-a substantially horizontal plane at therear portion thereof, which may be in the form of a saw cut,'which'extends fromthe rear end of the body towards the rounded nose and which terminates near the greatest thickness of the body. This slot is directed from the back to a point slightly below the rounded nose so that it serves to divide the rear part of the fuselage into alower part H of greater length'than the upper part The wings I 2 and i3 'are-pivotall-y connected to each other in the slot 24 at their inner ends by means of a pin having an enlarged end and a reduced end 20, the latter of which passes through openings in the inner ends of the wings and an opening of corresponding diameter in the lower member H of the fuselage. The pin l1 fits tightly in the upper part of the fuselage l0 and presses against the top wing 12 at the shoulder 2! (Fig. 3), the force of which supplements the tight frictional fit of the reduced end 20 of the pin fitting within the openings in the wings and the portion I i to'maintain the Wings in set "position at adjustable inclinations preparatory to the flight thereof'through the air. Thus the wings are adjusted as desired by merely pressing the several parts together at the pin ll. Thepin H is readily removable to permit a reversal of the wings from that shown in Fig. 1, in order to obtain different effects of the missile in flight. The wings I2 and I3 are also movable upon the incidence of excessive forces therein which they may experience in flight or when they strike against foreign objects so that no breakage .of the parts may result from such striking forces. As shown in d'otted'lines in Fig. 1, the wings may assume the positions as shown at l2 and [3' to collapse the glider for convenient carrying in a pocket.

The tailpiece It, which may be formed of the same light material as are the wings, is yieldably connected to the fuselage by a stiff but flexible strip of material i5, which may be of thin sheet metal, such as aluminum, or of thin fiber sheeting, which maybe adhesively applied to the undersurface of the lower portion of the fuselage I l and the lower surface of the tailpiece Hi. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a fiber strip connector is used and the undersurface of the rear end of portion i I is preferably undercut slightly at 25 to accommodate the end of the fiber strip. This fiber strip is flexible and enables the inclination of the tailpiece to be varied relative to the fuselage in order to obtain different flying efiects.

Finally, a rudder Hi, provided with a slot 22 for engaging the rear edge of the tailpiece, may be adjustably connected to the latter in order to vary the direction of flight of the instrument. Satisfactory flying conditions may be realized without the use of the rudder l6, but more variations of flight may be realized therewith.

It has also been found helpful to provide a rubber band l8 surrounding the fuselage l0 directly in front of the wings l2 and [3 in order to cushion the shocks experienced by said wings when the nose of the glider strikes against the ground or other objects.

While the glider described herein may be used with catapulting devices, the maximum benefits are derived from its simplicity because the same may be thrown simply by holding it at the point of the fuselage behind the wings, for example, at a point adjacent the end H, and throwing it forwardly like a dart, or like a baseball if the same is used outdoors. The simplicity of the arrangement attained by the assembly formed of four essential parts, namely, the fuselage and attached tailpiece, the two wings'and retaining pin I! makes the toy one of such simplicity that a child of the most tender age can enjoy it. At the same time, older children can derive a great amount of fun and instruction in the theory of flight by the adjustable manipulation of the wings, tailpiece and rudder, so that an attractive toy is had for all ages of children, as well as adults.

While I have described my invention as em tion, having its greatest diameter forward of its longitudinal center and a rounded nose at the forward end thereof, said fuselage having a slot in a substantially horizontal plane extending from the rear end of said fuselage towards said nose, terminating near the greatest diameter thereof, and pointing from the rear towards a point slightly below the rounded nose to divide the rear portion of said fuselage into a lower part of greater length than the upper part, a pair of wings extending from the opposite sides of said fuselage and pivotally connected thereto between the upper and lower parts thereof, and a tailpiece forming an extension of said fuselage ad- 4 justably connected to the rear end of the lower part thereof.

.2. A toy glider comprising a main fuselage in the form of a cigar-shaped surface of revolution, having its greatest diameter forward of its longitudinal center and a rounded nose at the forward end thereof, said fuselage having a slot in a substantially horizontal plane extending from the rear end of said fuselage towards said nose, terminating near the greatest diameter thereof, and pointing from the rear towards a point slightly below the rounded nose to divide the rear portion of said fuselage into a lower part of greater length than the upper part, a pair of wings extending from the opposite sides of said fuselage and pivotally connected thereto between the upper and lower parts thereof, said pivotal mounting comprising a pivot pin having an enlarged head passing through a circular opening in the upper part of said fuselage with an end of smaller diameter passing through openings of corresponding diameter in the overlying ends of the wings and in the lower part of the fuselage and fitting in said openings with a tight frictional fit to maintain the wings in predetermined adjusted position while permitting them to move therefrom in response to excessive forces, a tailpiece forming an extension of said fuselage adjustably connected to the rear end of the lower part thereof, and a rudder having a slot therein embracing the rear edge of said tailpiece to adjustably connect the latter with said rudder and thereby to control the direction of flight of said toy glider.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,144,914 Pierson June 29, 1915 1,618,925 Harris Feb. 22, 1927 1,771,991 Bissiri Aug. 5, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 141,916 Switzerland Aug. 31, 1930 

